BIG HUGE thank you to my most awesome Beta ShadoKat ... this story would not be anywhere near as good without her!
And just to let everyone know, I am not giving up on Who Is Master, lots has been going on in my world and I'm very insanely busy. MEN are just such a PITA, can't live with'em and can't live without'em. A very special someone has just been keeping me off balance of late, and I'm packing for my move, and traveling and starting a new job. DRAMA, DRAMA, DRAMA
Chapter 11
Bill managed to get the chains off of Victor before Maigrey returned.
"She will be back soon, we must be ready," he whispered to the ailing Victor.
They watched as Eric flew overhead, seconds before Maigrey POPped back to them, a sleeping girl in her arms.
"Quickly, touch me!" she commanded, setting Sookie down on the floor and leaning her against the wall.
Bill grabbed Victor and they touched her while she kept her hand on the sleeping Sookie. Mere seconds had passed but it was long enough; she POPped them to the Kings study in Vegas.
Eric landed at the shed hearing Felicia hollering from inside.
Flying down the stairs, he entered the cell and found nothing. Felicia was running around, her eyes full of disbelief.
"Master!" she said, falling to her knees. "He was right here and then he wasn't! Like a Fairy, but nobody came in Master I swear it!"
"MAIGREY!" Eric hollered into the air. It made sense now, the faint scent he'd smelled in the hall outside his day chamber.
"SOOKIE!" he yelled, flying back to the house. Pam was running up the stairs from his chamber. "Master, Master it was Maigrey! Nobody else can cloak and POP Master, she has Sookie!"
Eric screamed his frustration to the sky above.
Felipe saw them appear in front of him. Sookie woke as she felt a difference in the texture of the couch underneath her.
Screaming in shock, she jumped up. "Who are you?" she demanded.
Felipe's eyes were drawn to her immediately. She was in jeans and a t-shirt, her trim, voluptuous form calling to him.
"I am King Felipe de Castro. This is my associate Maigrey, you know Bill Compton, and Victor Madden. Though I must apologize for his appearance, he had a slight run in with Sheriff Northman." Felipe introduced them, bowing to her slightly.
Bill was in front of her instantly, drawing his hand back to strike. "BITCH!" he hollered.
Sookie's reaction was instant, her blue glow overtaking her, her right hand rising. "NO!" She froze him. Shock took over immediately. "Holy shit!" she said out loud, bringing her hand in front of her face, staring at it. The blue glow that had surrounded her was now gone.
Felipe chuckled, pleased at her display of power. "Maigrey, please take Victor to his chamber for healing, he will need blood."
Maigrey bowed slightly and lifted Victor, carrying him out of the room.
Bill's eyes stared at Sookie, reflecting his hatred coldly. "Release me!" he ordered.
His words snapped her out of her shock. "I do NOT see that happening Mr. Compton!" she retorted, forgetting about Felipe's presence.
"Ms.. Stackhouse isn't it?" Felipe asked, standing near her.
"Yes," she replied, stepping away, wanting distance between her and the other Vampires.
"Please, let me show you to your new room. I am sure you will find it more comfortable. You will be able to change from your travel clothes," he stated
"I have no luggage," she replied. "Where am I? Why am I here? Where is Eric?" she questioned.
"You are in Las Vegas, in my Palace, where you will now be living. You are here because I want you here and I have no clue where Northman is, but you will be forgetting him. I will become your bonded, and we will rule together," he stated matter-of-factly.
Sookie stared at him like he'd lost his mind. "I don't think so," she replied. "I have no desire to get to know you, in any form. I demand you return me to Eric. NOW!" she commanded.
Felipe chuckled in mild amusement at her temper. Stepping behind his desk, he picked up the phone. "Sandy, Ms. Stackhouse will need assistance," he hung up the phone. Turning back to her he said, "Ms. Stackhouse, Sandy will help you to your room. If you need something that is not provided in your room please let her know. She will be helping you prepare tomorrow for our first blood exchange. We will need to exchange 3 times to fully bond, she will go over the details with you," he explained as a short woman with short brown hair walked in, nodding to the King.
Sookie lowered her shield to see if she could hear her and was met with a void. 'Vampire,' she thought to herself.
Sandy took Sookie by the arm, leading her from the room. Walking down a long hallway, Sandy opened a door and pushed Sookie through gently.
Pam watched Eric throw a tree across the front yard in frustration.
"Master did you bond with her?" she asked, interrupting his tantrum.
"Yes," he replied. Closing his eyes he focused on her and was able to feel her panic followed by immediate anger. "She is far away, but safe right now, I feel her confusion."
He opened his phone, calling Niall. "Get here! NOW!" he commanded, hanging up.
POP
Niall was in front of him.
Eric resisted the urge to snap his throat.
"Maigrey took her. I believe she took her to Felipe De Castro. I think now is the time for answers!"
There was a quiet sound of static behind Niall followed by the appearance of the Ancient One with one of her handmaidens.
Eric and Pam immediately fell to their knees, heads bowed. "Ancient Pythoness," Eric greeted her, his voice full of reverence.
"Rise, rise, both of you," she said, a quiet chuckle in her voice and a smirk on her face, her milky white eyes settling on them.
"How may I serve you?" Eric asked.
"I am here to save this one," she said, indicating Niall, now standing next to her. "He cannot answer all of your questions Viking. It is not allowed."
"I need to know what I am battling; I cannot win if I cannot identify my enemy!"
"Your enemy is many, Viking, although you would recognize the faces of Felipe de Castro and Sophie Anne. While he will take care of her soon enough, she is still able to cause you much turmoil during this time."
"What role does Sookie play?" he asked, his voice sharp.
"She is what they all seek. Felipe has her and you must get her back before he seeks to bond with her Viking, his bond cannot seal. It must not be allowed to happen!"
"How is it even possible? I have bonded with her."
"Your bond is fresh; if he bonds with her soon, it will overtake your bond and potentially erase it. You must FULLY bond with her, which involves the blood exchanges and consummation of the bond. You did not have enough time to mate with her before she was taken; without the mating your bond is vulnerable," she explained patiently. "His blood exchange will not be enough, but if he mates with her it will be."
"Yes Ancient One," he answered tightly, his jaw flexing forward, evidence of his anger.
"Niall will take you to Felipe's area. Ready yourself!" she stated. "Your Sookie is powerful and innocent Viking! She doesn't understand what she is or who she is, but she is important to us all. Now go, and do not kill the Fairy!" She said the last with a chuckle.
There was a faint sound and she was gone, taking her handmaiden with her.
"Wait here!" Eric instructed Niall. He flew into his house to his day chamber, smelling Sookie's scent everywhere. 'I am coming my Sookie, I am coming, you are MINE!' He retrieved his sword and shoulder harness. He put his arm through it and settled it in the center of his back as he flew out of the house and back to Niall and Pam.
Sookie looked around the room she was standing in. It was a large sitting room, with a table and chairs in front of a set of floor to ceiling windows, a large couch, 2 chairs and a large TV. Off to the left was a doorway leading to a bedroom. The bedroom held an enormous bed with a royal blue bedspread and a dark cherry head and foot board, an armoire and a vanity in the same dark cherry. There were 2 doors on the inside wall, one leading to a walk-in closet full of clothes, and one leading to a bathroom. The bathroom was all white. White towels, white appliances, white tile. It did have a large soaking tub and separate shower, but neither was as large as those she had shared with Eric.
Sandy had followed Sookie into the bathroom and spoke from behind her, startling her. "I'll need a list of your toiletries; someone will be sent to fetch whatever you need," she stated graciously. She was hoping to get off on the right foot with the soon-to-be-Queen.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to lie down. It's been a very stressful night and I am very tired," Sookie inquired politely.
Sandy looked a bit irritated but nodded and left Sookie alone in the room.
Sookie took the time to investigate her suite. Finding no phone or way for outside communication, she walked into the closet. She noticed the clothes were all in her size. "Creepy!" she said aloud, backing away. She went to the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face.
The cold water helped her focus more on her current situation and took the edge off her rising emotions.
Eric and Pam touched Niall and they POPped into Vegas. They arrived in Niall's penthouse suite at the Bellagio. Arriving there would allow Pam and Eric the luxury of a surprise attack. Eric looked around immediately and called Stan from his cell phone, informing him of the evening's happenings.
Niall looked at Pam, who was looking around the room, startled. "You will have to help him," he stated.
"My loyalty is always with my master," she replied, her cool gaze landing on him immediately.
"I must go. You have use of the suite for as long as you need. The keys are in the top desk drawer," he replied, motioning towards the desk. Niall walked toward the windows overlooking the Vegas strip. "She is my granddaughter…" he sighed.
Eric returned to Pam as Niall walked to the windows. "You should have claimed her. This wouldn't have happened!" he stated coldly. Then he turned to face Eric. "There is still much you do not understand Vampire. Call if you need me," he stated and POPped out of the room.
Felipe was ecstatic! He had the girl! He would begin his bond with her tomorrow and invade Louisiana! He would have to make sure Eric Northman was sent to his final death. Sookie was too attached to him for Felipe to allow him to live.
He called his fellow regents in Texas and California to invite them to the bonding ceremony tomorrow at midnight. The secretaries for both states confirmed attendance for both regents and Felipe notified his Sheriffs for their mandatory attendance.
Sandy walked back into his office and quietly stood in front of his desk, waiting for him to finish his phone call.
"Majesty," she said when his gaze fell on her.
"Yes Sandy? Did you get her list from her?" he asked.
"She said she needed to sleep first Majesty. I left her in her room."
"WHAT? You left her alone?" he hollered. Using his Vampire speed he raced down the hall to Sookie's door. He flung it open, the door crashing against the wall behind it.
He heard a scream come from the bedroom.
Sookie kept her clothes on and decided to lie down on the bed, and was just beginning to relax when she heard the door to her suite slam open.
Felipe appeared in her bedroom doorway.
"You did not give your list to Sandy!" he accused, walking to the bed where she was lying.
"I can't focus; I need to sleep… there has just been too much…." She struggled to get the words out.
"You will learn to follow my orders here!" he stated, his fist connecting with her jaw before she could see it coming.
Sookie fell back onto the bed, the pain causing her to pass out.
Eric felt Sookie's panic, and tried to send waves of calm toward her. He was unsure how much she would feel since their bond was so new, but he felt her began to relax. He was beginning to relax and plan their next moves when he felt strong fear followed by sharp blinding pain. He roared in helplessness.
Sophie Anne had finished her last trial and was making her way to her office when her secretary handed her the message from Felipe.
She tossed the slip of paper back onto her desk. 'I can't call him until I have answers about what has happened.'
Stan Davis answered Eric's call personally, knowing something must be wrong. He was furious listening to Eric explain what Felipe had done. Maigrey was definitely a problem.
Stan's secretary was accepting Felipe's invitation to his bonding ceremony, and Stan told Eric he was on the way.
"I will meet you at your suite in the Bellagio tomorrow at sunset…I have a plan," he said, explaining his idea to Eric.
"Till then my friend," Eric replied.
Stan called his contact in Felipe's retinue.
Rasul answered. "Majesty?"
"Felipe has the girl?" Stan asked.
"Maigrey just brought her, Majesty." Rasul heard the punch Felipe dealt to Sookie through the wall "And Felipe is… instructing… her on his ways now Majesty"
"That is not good, where is Madden?" Stan inquired.
"He is being healed, he was not in the best of conditions when he arrived, and Maigrey had to take him to feed."
Rasul heard Felipe leave Sookie's room. "Majesty, he has departed the girl; should I go to see the damage?"
"Yes, report back immediately!" Stan replied, closing his phone.
'Felipe is going to get himself killed if he isn't careful, and Maigrey, she needs to be eliminated!' he thought as he sat down in the chair behind his desk.
"We need to leave tonight; get our rooms at the Bellagio ready!" he called to his assistant.
"Master," Pam said. "Eric!" she said a little bit louder when she got no answer the first time.
"He is beating her," he said quietly.
"We must re-group Eric!" she commanded.
"Stan is coming tomorrow; until then we need to sit still. He will be taking us to the palace as his guests. It seems Felipe is having a bonding ceremony," he stated.
"Oh?" Pam asked, arching her eyebrow. "Really?"
"Yes, it seems he will be beginning a bond to a girl and he wants it to take place in front of his people and guests," he said in a monotone.
"It is almost dawn – will you feed?" she inquired.
"I will only feed from Sookie," he replied, moving to look out the windows.
"I am ordering room service," she stated, dialing the phone.
Rasul heard Felipe send Sandy to bring Sookie the missing bathroom items, telling her to pick whatever she deemed most appropriate.
He slipped quietly into Sookie's room, moving silently to her bedroom. He found her lying across the bed diagonally, her head almost hanging off the bed, her arms splayed out at her sides.
He frowned, and taking her in his arms, he moved her around to lay her head on a pillow, pulling a spare blanket over her. He took note of her swelling jaw line and smelled the blood pooling, knowing she would have an ugly bruise soon.
He listened to her strong heartbeat and smelled her sweet scent. He also smelled Eric's scent all over her. Opening his phone, he dialed the Sheriff directly.
"Northman."
"I am not in a discreet place, names cannot be spoken," Rasul stated quietly.
"I understand."
"I wanted you to know, her heartbeat is strong, her jaw is not broken and she slumbers."
"You are with her? Bring her to me!"
"I cannot; I will not make it out of the palace with her. I smelled you on her; I wanted you to know her condition. He will not be kind to her."
"I understand, thank you."
"I must go," Rasul closed his phone.
Moving out of Sookie's room, he heard Felipe bellow down the hall for Sandy. Appearing in the door of his office, Rasul bowed.
"Majesty, she is not around, may I be of service?"
"Yes, inform the kitchen that I wish Ms. Stackhouse's food to be drugged. Whatever will make her more agreeable. I have no care what it is," he informed Rasul with the flip of his hand.
"Yes your Majesty, I will do so now," he stated, backing away from the office.
He left the floor and made his way to an unoccupied study outside the kitchen, where he dialed Stan again.
"Majesty, I have seen the girl; she has been beaten but she will survive. I called HIM when I smelled his scent on her, Majesty."
"I am sure he was displeased."
"Felipe has ordered her drugged. I am on my way to the kitchen as we speak, to inform them to use whatever they want to ensure she is agreeable Majesty," Rasul informed him.
"Proceed, and make sure she is aware and provided with other rations. We will need her alert for the ceremony tomorrow."
"I understand." Rasul closed his phone, smiling and continuing on to the kitchen to carry out his orders.
Finding the upstairs maid that would be serving Sookie, he glamoured her, instructing her to warn Sookie of the drugged food and that food in the bathroom was clean and edible.
He managed to grab some fruit from the kitchen and smuggled it to her room, along with some pastries.
Felipe went to his day chamber with thoughts of his future bonded. Her body was beautiful; he could hardly wait to begin his bond and show her who her real master was.
He imagined her beautiful skin marred by him. It would all stay out of sight of others, but the thought of her pain made him hard. He stroked himself to release as he thought of her cries of pain and pleas for mercy. Mercy he would never grant her.
Stan was on board his plane heading for Vegas when he began to feel the pull of the sun.
He called the Ancient One to inform her of the happenings and the plan. She had surprised him when she had told him she already knew about it. She approved of his plan and advised him to make sure Eric would be able to consummate his bond with Sookie and make it permanent.
He was climbing into his travel coffin as he promised her he would protect the pair as they eternalized the bond.
Eric shut the light-tight blinds on the hotel room before he retired to the bedroom. Pam had retired earlier after glamouring her room service to forget.
He took off his clothes and laid on the bed, noticing sadly how empty it felt without Sookie's warmth and scent. 'I'm coming my Sookie…' he thought as he felt the pull of the sun for the day.
"Sookie…Sookie….Sookie baby, you gotta wake up, we gotta talk now!" Gran said as she sat beside Sookie on the bed.
Sookie opened her eyes to see Gran looking down at her, her face shadowed with worry.
"Gran?" Sookie asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yes Sookie, we gotta talk baby, its important!" Gran said, looking around the room. "I know what has happened baby, and I have to warn you," Gran said touching her jaw where Felipe hit her the night before.
"Gran, you gotta help me, how do I get out of here?" Sookie pleaded.
"You can't leave right now baby. Outside the door leading to the hallway are guards. They will do whatever they have to do to make sure you do not leave," Gran said. "I'll show you."
Gran grabbed her hand and led her through the bedroom to the door out of the suite. Instead of opening it, Gran walked through it, pulling Sookie behind her. There were 2 guards standing outside the door they had just walked through. Sookie lowered her shields and heard static with a few stray thoughts.
"Gran, what are they? They aren't Vampires! Its daylight, but I can't hear their thoughts like I can others," Sookie asked.
Gran smiled. "Very good Sookie, they aren't humans," she said. "They are Werewolves, and while they are honorable men, and they don't want to hurt you, they will in order to keep you here. That Felipe, he blackmailed them. They must obey him."
Sookie stood in front of one of the men waving her hand in his face, stunned that they couldn't see her. "Sookie!" Gran chastised her.
Sookie looked up and down the hall. "Gran, we just walked through a door, and I have Werewolf guards! I'm in a bit of shock right now!"
Gran chuckled. "I know baby." She wrapped her arms around Sookie, holding her tight. "I know, and you have made me so proud with the way you are dealing with it all baby girl. So proud! You will handle the destiny that is before you with strength, honor, and grace; I know you will!"
Sookie cocked her head to the side, wondering what destiny her Gran was talking about. She had more than enough to deal with right at the moment! "Gran, how do I get out of this mess?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.
"No Sookie, there is nothing about this situation that your tears will fix. We don't have that kind of time," Gran said, squeezing her hands. "You need to listen to me Sookie. Tonight you need to do what that Felipe tells you. No matter what! Remember when I said, help would come when you needed it most?" Gran asked.
Sookie nodded.
"OK well tonight, help is coming. You need to make sure you are alert baby." Gran squeezed her hands again. "DO NOT EAT THE FOOD THEY BRING YOU. There is safe food in the bathroom baby, only eat that. NOTHING ELSE. There are drugs in the food, and you cannot eat it. Flush it down the toilet or make an excuse, but do not eat it!"
"Did they poison my food Gran?" Sookie asked, trying desperately not to cry.
"They drugged your food, but it's not poison for you, my girl," Gran said smiling softly.
"Sookie, the maid who will bring you your food, she will tell you its been drugged, and it will seem like you can trust her, but you cannot. Someone has glamoured her to tell you, to warn you baby. But that maid, she is 100% loyal to Felipe. DO NOT tell her anything!" Gran cautioned, taking Sookie's hands into hers again.
She led Sookie down the hallway, and down the stairs.
"Sookie you need to remember the layout of the house for tonight baby. Remember what I am showing you," Gran told her.
They walked the entire downstairs, room after room. Sookie saw what appeared to be a ballroom. People were rushing around, appearing to get ready for a party.
"Gran, what is going on here? What are these people doing?" Sookie whispered.
"They are getting ready for your bonding ceremony baby girl. Felipe has ordered his people to attend and he has invited guests to witness his first bond with you."
Sookie's eyes filled with tears again. "Gran, I'm already bonded with Eric, we can't let this happen!" Sookie cried desperately. "Felipe is a bad man Gran! Please don't make me do this!" she begged.
"Baby, I cannot tell you what will happen," Gran told her "But Eric will not give up. I am showing you all of this so that you can do what is needed when the time comes baby. Tonight will be a big night for you!That is why you must see everything around you and remember, Sookie, remember what I am showing you now!"
"I'll try Gran."
"Sookie, I love you baby," Gran wrapped her in another hug. "You need to wake up now baby. You need to wake up and eat the food in the bathroom; you MUST eat now, no more skipping meals."
Sookie nodded.
Gran smiled at her, knowing Sookie didn't understand. "Wake up now baby! I'll come see you again, wake up Sookie wake up…"
Sookie opened her eyes, groaning at the pain in her cheek. The pain was so strong she was almost nauseous.
She was lying on the bed; she even had her shoes on. She made her way to the bathroom, taking care of her needs. After washing her hands, she found the food Gran had told her about.
Sookie painfully devoured an apple and two of the 5 pastries she found. She still had another apple, a banana, a few grapes, strawberries, and 2 more pastries.
Taking care to put the apple core into the drawer she had found her food stuffed in, she took a look at herself in the mirror. She saw the swelling and bruising. Her eye was even starting to look black.
Sookie went back to the bedroom and sat on the bed to cry it out. 'If I do this now, I can get it out of my system and deal with everything in front of me,' she thought, as the tears poured from her eyes.
Once her moment had passed, she got up from the bed and walked back into the bathroom. She washed her face and walked out to sit in front of the TV.
A maid walked in just as she sat down, carrying a tray of food.
"Good afternoon miss, I brought your breakfast. I'll be back after you eat to do your hair and make-up for the party tonight," she said, setting the tray down at the table in front of the window.
"Thank you," Sookie replied.
"Miss, the food has been drugged. The master wants to make sure you can't give him any problems; do not eat it." The maid left immediately after her revelation.
Sookie walked over to the tray looking down at it. Eggs, toast, pancakes, syrup, fruit and some pastries. Sookie took the plate with the eggs and walked back into the bathroom; she flushed them down the toilet. She took the apple core she had eaten and placed it on the tray and took the drugged apple and stuffed it into another drawer, careful to keep her clean food separate.
"What the hell am I involved in?" she asked out loud.
Looking at the clock, she noticed it was 2:15pm. 'Another 5 hours before dark,' she thought.
Eric woke an hour before sunset. He lay in the bed for a few brief minutes, still missing Sookie. He got up and showered.
Making sure he braided his hair, he donned the suit that had been left for him in the living room.
Once he was dressed and ready, he walked into the kitchen and heated a true blood. After finishing it, he sat on the sofa and slipped into downtime.
The maid returned to Sookie at 5. She had a clothes bag with her. Walking immediately into the bedroom, she hung the gown on the hook outside the closet door. Sookie followed her in, curious about what she was doing.
"I'm Sookie," she told the maid.
"My name is Beth, miss," she replied.
"Nice to meet you Beth," Sookie said.
"Thank you miss, it's nice to meet you too," Beth said nervously. She unzipped the garment bag, revealing a white dress with a small train. Sookie thought it looked like a wedding dress.
"What is the dress for?" Sookie asked.
"It's for your bonding ceremony tonight miss. Why don't you take a shower and I'll come back to do your hair and make-up? I'll also bring you some light food so you won't be starved before dinner tonight," Beth replied.
"What time will the ceremony begin?" Sookie asked.
"Guests will start arriving at 9, but the ceremony isn't until midnight. Dinner will be served before hand at 11pm," Beth explained.
"Thank you Beth; I'll shower now" Sookie replied, dropping her shields to listen to Beth.
'She seems so nice.Thankfully she agreed to shower so I don't have to tell the guards to shower her;that would just be horrible. I can't like her though, I need this job,' Beth's thoughts seemed desperate. Sookie slipped her shields back in place as she walked into the bathroom and turned on the water.
Hearing Beth leave, Sookie shut the bathroom door and locked it. It would be embarrassing to have some stranger walk in on her taking a shower.
Sookie managed to wash and condition her hair with no problem but the body wash was lemon scented. Sookie had a violent allergy to all things lemon, so she ignored it, noting she would have to tell Beth when she returned.
As she dried off, she found a fuzzy white robe on the back of the bathroom door. Slipping into it, she walked into the bedroom. Beth was smoothing out the bed, patiently waiting for Sookie.
"Beth, I am sorry to be a pain, but the body wash that was in there, it's got lemon in it, and I am allergic to all things lemon," Sookie said.
"I'll take care of it miss," Beth said, running into the bathroom and removing the bottle. "I left a tray for you in the living room!" she called as she left the suite to dispose of the bottle.
Sookie walked in, noting the sandwich and iced tea. She ripped the sandwich into little pieces and dropped a few at a time down the toilet, hoping she didn't stop it up, and that nobody would notice the frequent flushing. She poured the tea down the drain and returned the glass to the tray quickly.
Sookie ate a banana from her stash, not feeling very hungry to begin with.
She brushed her teeth, and returned to the bedroom to wait for Beth.
It was already 7:00 and the sun was almost down - pink streaks were still in the dark sky.
Beth returned and they started on Sookie's hair and makeup.
Stan woke in his travel coffin. Moving to the shower, he managed to get clean and dressed in a tux in less than 30 minutes.
He flipped the light-tight shutters open to view the dark sky.
Moving to the hallway and into the elevator, he was in the penthouse with Eric quickly.
Pam was walking out of her room dressed in a cranberry colored dress as Stan was heating a blood in the kitchen.
"Pam," he purred. "Always a pleasure!" he said, eyeing her figure appreciatively.
"Majesty," Pam replied, arching an eyebrow.
"If you two are done, we can get to business!" Eric stated irritably, losing patience with both of them.
"Eric we cannot appear at the palace until after 9. We will draw too much attention if we go early," Stan explained.
"Don't take it personally Stan; he's been auditioning for the Johnny Cash role in a movie," she stated. "I was worried it was a midlife crisis. Abby speaks of these often in her advice columns. He even had me buying human food in a grocery store!" She said, rolling her eyes. "But the Johnny Cash role, it fits the most. If you watch him long enough, you will see his eye twitch AND a vein in his forehead pops!" Pam snarked, giggling.
Stan merely watched the two Vampires pick at each other.
"PAM!"
"Come on – we can make our way down to the limo; the traffic will hold prevent our arrival anyway," Stan said, hoping to not witness the two Vampires beat each other.
Beth was helping Sookie into her dress when a knock sounded on the door to the outside of her suite.
Sookie tossed a towel over her exposed back and a strange Vampire walked in. He had a dark complexion and dark hair. Sookie found the void of his mind as he stepped closer to her and her gaze dropped from his honey colored eyes.
"I am Rasul," he said quietly, bowing to her slightly. "The King bid me to make sure all was well with you Miss Stackhouse," he stated. Felipe had in fact ordered him to make sure Sookie was indeed changing and not giving Beth a problem.
"Y..Yes I am fine," she said haltingly, her gaze flitting about the room, nervously.
Beth moved to the outer room to close the drapes, leaving them alone for a moment.
"Did you find the food I left you?" he asked quietly, his gaze indicating the bathroom.
Sookie's gaze swung to him quickly, shock registering in her eyes. "Yes, thank you!" she whispered.
"I will try to stay close to you tonight, you must stay alert!" he replied in a low voice. "His Majesty has assigned me the duty of being your guard," he stated louder as Beth returned to the room.
"Thank you Rasul, please call me Sookie," she replied, her gaze never leaving his.
Rasul left the room to let Sookie finish dressing. It was nearing 10:00.
His cell phone vibrated in his jacket pocket; it was a text from Stan.
'WE have arrived.'
'She will be down soon,' Rasul replied back after making sure nobody was watching. The Werewolf guards had been sent away upon his arrival.
Eric lifted his head as soon as he was in the palace, breathing the air deeply. He smelled her faint scent. 'She is here,' he thought, his nerves settling some.
He lowered his head immediately to Pam, hoping to conceal himself in the crowd. Being 6'5" his height alone made him unmistakable.
Pam was taking note of those in the crowd, finding a few familiar faces. She was pleased; if things went badly she and Eric would at least be able to make it out of the palace.
Moving forward, they entered the ballroom, noting the raised stage and small alter with a bed immediately beside. The bed had white gauze curtains, giving the false sense of privacy.
"Apparently Felipe plans to start his bond and bed our little telepath in front of everyone," she said to Stan and Eric. Eric replied with a low growl.
"Are you going to the bonding?" Niall asked her.
"Of course! I would advise you to be there as well; as her male relative, it is your duty to accept the union after it is complete," the Ancient Pythoness replied.
"Is that what you have foreseen?" He asked, the sarcasm unmistakable in his voice.
"It is what I am telling you to do Niall. Don't be difficult!" she replied dryly. "You need to keep watch over the girl. Do not let the fangs of any but the Viking touch her; it would be detrimental." She chuckled.
Niall's eyes jumped to her.
Felipe rose for the night and immediately called for a blood whore. His feed and fuck left his dark skin almost pink.
He dressed and made his way to his office, calling for Rasul. He needed to make sure Sookie was not delaying.
"Ensure your future Queen is getting ready! If she is not, do whatever is needed to get her in the dress. Beth can hide the bruises with makeup," Felipe assured him, dismissing Rasul to attend to Sookie.
'I look forward to breaking her,' he thought as he called for Sandy to make sure all the arrangements were complete.
Felipe would share blood with her for the first time at the altar, moving her to the bed immediately afterward. He needed to remove Eric's scent from her. Fucking her in front of the crowd would ensure there were no questions about his claim on her, and would embarrass her. He knew she would be modest; she was human after all. He would have the last two blood exchanges follow immediately after fucking her senseless.
Eric struggled to keep his temper under control. Seeing the bed on the stage brought images of Sookie with Felipe, which made him want to snap Felipe's neck like he had Andre's.
Sookie and Beth finished the buttons on the back of her dress and walked to the mirror.
The dress was all white, with a sweetheart neckline and full skirt, and a small train at the back made out of satin. It was simple and elegant. The back of the dress was bare, with 4 strings of seed pearls hanging connecting one side of the dress to the other across Sookie's back. The long straight sleeves were snug but not tight on her arms.
Sookie liked the dress but hated that Felipe had gotten it for her.
She was keeping herself calm by imagining she was getting ready for her wedding to Eric. 'I hope he is alright!' she thought, struggling to not cry. 'I miss him so much!'
She felt waves of comfort flooding over her then. 'Why does that keep happening?' she thought.
Her makeup was flawless; the swelling had gone down in her jaw, thanks to the ice she had been applying to it. Beth had applied layers of concealer and foundation to the large bruise and black eye she had developed. Her eyes were lined with a smoky dark gray, and her lashes coated with mascara, giving her eyes the extra pop needed to make the blue appear deeper. Her lips were a blush pink and her fingernails had been painted a pale pink. She truly looked like a bride on her wedding day.
Her hair had been left down with the sides pulled back with two butterfly combs, a few wisps of hair pulled down around her face to soften the look. Plain pearl studs had been put into her ears.
Beth smiled at her in the mirror. "You look beautiful miss," she smiled.
"Thank you Beth; I owe it all to you," Sookie replied. "I just need to use the rest room and then I'll be ready."
Beth nodded and Sookie walked to her bathroom, shutting the door. She grabbed the last safe apple and took a few bites, not feeling hungry but hoping to keep her strength up. She took care of her business, washed her hands and opened the door.
Walking calmly over to the bed, she put on the white ballet slippers that were on the floor. Felipe was not a tall man; she assumed he wanted her in flats to that she wasn't taller than him.
Beth waited for Sookie in the front room, nodding with a smile on her face when Sookie appeared in the doorway, ready.
"Should I wait here or do I need to go somewhere?" Sookie asked quietly.
"I'll let Rasul know you are ready miss," Beth stated, slipping out the door to the suite.
Beth nodded to Rasul to indicate Sookie's readiness. Rasul walked into the room, and was stunned by her beauty. 'Northman is a lucky lucky Vampire!' he thought. A brief thought of running away with the girl crossed his mind, followed quickly by the image of an enraged Viking.
Rasul breathed in her sweet scent. He noticed that she smelled faintly of fear in addition to her natural smell. 'She should be afraid, especially if things go wrong and she ends up bonding with Felipe,' he thought.
"Are you ready?" he asked softly, his eyes meeting hers with a look of encouragement.
"No but we don't need to wait; I'll never be ready," she stated evenly.
Rasul nodded, impressed by her attitude and calmness. He opened the door of the suite and waited for Sookie to pass through, and she paused to wait for him in the hallway. Rasul shut the door and offered her his arm.
Shocked, Sookie looked at him, taking his arm. "Thank you," she said, "for all of your kindness," she whispered.
Rasul nodded, and led her down the hall.
Eric saw Rasul walk down the stairs with Sookie. She was breathtaking. He stayed out of her sight, he needed her to be shocked and if she saw him now, it could devastate his plans.
He sniffed the air, smelling her sweet scent that was still mixed with his own. 'At least Felipe hasn't touched her,' he thought with relief.
As she made her way to the bottom of the stairs, he noted the slight swelling in her cheek and the large quantity of make-up on the spot. Growling deeply, he knew Felipe had done it. 'He will pay!' he vowed.
A bell rang on the stage, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. Sookie was taken to the stage and Rasul passed her hand to Felipe.
Sookie was trembling as she took Felipe's hand. Hiding her revulsion, she stood on the stage next to him, unable to smile, and scanned the crowd.
Her heart skipped a beat when she thought she saw Pam's face, but when her gaze returned to where she saw it, she found it was a different blonde.
'Eric, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I don't want to do this!' she thought, biting the inside of her lip to keep from crying.
Felipe squeezed her hand and looked out over the crowd.
"Thank you for coming everyone! We are here to celebrate my bonding to Sookie Stackhouse, telepath. Together we will rule Nevada and our future! Our ceremony will begin momentarily," he announced, nodding his head graciously.
Sookie fought off her need to retch. Refusing both food and drink, for fear of more drugging, she looked around the stage. She saw the small altar and the bed immediately next to it. Her heart almost stopped. 'I will not have sex with this freak!' she thought, anger taking over her emotions. Breathing deeply a few times, she managed to get herself under control.
Felipe moved her to the altar and pushed her into a kneeling position. He knelt opposite her as Rasul presented him with a dagger and a crystal wine goblet.
Rasul spoke to the crowd next.
"Our King and Ms. Stackhouse will now exchange blood with the knife. They will then consummate their bonding for all to see," he stated loudly, backing away.
Felipe sliced his own arm, blood dropping into the goblet. Licking his wound closed, he raised Sookie's arm, pulling the knife, up to slice her skin.
And several things happened at once:
Sookie's anger took control, and she started glowing blue.
There were two POPs heard beside her, with 2 fairies and the Ancient Pythoness appearing.
And a loud "NO!" was growled from the crowd as a very enraged Viking flew to the stage, sword in hand, pulling Sookie away from the dagger Felipe held ready to slice her arm with. "She is MINE" Eric yelled, his face feral with anger, his blue eyes flashing.
"ERIC!" Sookie cried in desperate relief, wrapping her arms around him.
Eric wrapped an arm protectively around her, his other hand holding his sword at the ready. "Sookie, I need you to trust me," he stated, waiting for her nod, which was immediate.
Eric bared his arm, bit, and put it in front of Sookie's face. "Drink, NOW!" he ordered. Sookie, looking confused, drank freely from his open wrist as Eric plunged his fangs into her neck.
The bond, now stronger and more complete, caused a vibration around them as Sookie's blue glow now sheltered both Eric and her.
